Associations between eating behaviors, multidimensional test anxiety, and emotion regulation difficulties among adolescents

Abstract

Aims: This study examined the associations among multidimensional test anxiety, difficulties in emotion regulation, and eating behaviors in adolescents, with a focus on public health-relevant implications during academically stressful periods.Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1.713 high school students aged 14-18 years (61.4% girls, 38.6% boys). Data were collected face-to-face using the Multidimensional Test Anxiety Scale, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), the Power of Food Scale (PFS), and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire. Body height (cm) and body weight (kg) were self-reported, and body-mass index (BMI) was calculated. Correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to examine associations among the study variables.Results: Girls reported significantly higher levels of multidimensional test anxiety score, emotion regulation difficulties, and eating-behavior subdimensions compared with boys (p